When did your bronze turkeys start breeding?

[R2elk]

I might do that because it's just the one hen that gets bred, none of the other ones have been messed with. The hen goes into the breeding posture for him though, will she eventually get sick of it and stop doing that.

Once she starts laying she will decrease the amount of times she assumes the position. When she goes broody she will stop completely. Toms should not be allowed access to the nest. They will take the hen sitting on the nest as an invitation to breed. At the least eggs will get broken. At the worst the hen will get cut badly or even killed.

 

[GarrettW]

Not all toms are good breeders. Some are more interested in stomping on the hens than they are in actually breeding. Some get on facing the wrong way.

To help your hen, make sure you trim your tom's toenails so they are not sharp.

Will he get better with time?
Also, what should I use to trim his nails?

 

[R2elk]

Will he get better with time?
Also, what should I use to trim his nails?

In my experience, poor breeders only get worse. I have even had good breeders get worse with age.

Dog nail trimmers or even a Dremel tool. You could use dikes and sandpaper too.

 

[GarrettW]

Once she starts laying she will decrease the amount of times she assumes the position. When she goes broody she will stop completely. Toms should not be allowed access to the nest. They will take the hen sitting on the nest as an invitation to breed. At the least eggs will get broken. At the worst the hen will get cut badly or even killed.

I have two nesting boxes set up that he can't get to. I have a neighbor that lost poults because their tom could get into their nesting box.

 

[R2elk]

I have two nesting boxes set up that he can't get to. I have a neighbor that lost poults because their tom could get into their nesting box.

That only works if the hens decide to use what you have provided. They don't always agree with us on what is a suitable nesting place.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

You're hen will probably lay a few eggs this fall. No guarantee of course but if she's squatting quite a bit and allowing him to attempt to mate, she probably will. Chances of them actually being fertilized don't sound very good if he's not sure what he's doing. As far as going broody, she may, she may not. I never remove my toms when I have broody hens....I don't usually lose eggs but my toms have a habit of JOINING the hens in the nest lol. If you decide you'd like a few hen saddles for your girls, here's my Etsy shop to check out:
Www.etsy.com/shop/onemountainacres

 

[GarrettW]

You're hen will probably lay a few eggs this fall. No guarantee of course but if she's squatting quite a bit and allowing him to attempt to mate, she probably will. Chances of them actually being fertilized don't sound very good if he's not sure what he's doing. As far as going broody, she may, she may not. I never remove my toms when I have broody hens....I don't usually lose eggs but my toms have a habit of JOINING the hens in the nest lol. If you decide you'd like a few hen saddles for your girls, here's my Etsy shop to check out:
Www.etsy.com/shop/onemountainacres

He gets it done he just takes a long time to do it, and is pretty rough.
I definitely will look at saddles for her.

 

[GarrettW]

In my experience, poor breeders only get worse. I have even had good breeders get worse with age.

Could it be that she is too small right now so he has a hard time getting his footing?

 

[R2elk]

Could it be that she is too small right now so he has a hard time getting his footing?

Possibly but unlikely.

 

[GarrettW]

Will my tom figure out how to breed my royal palm hen? He tries but she's a lot skinnier than him and he cant fit both feet on her back.